Roller-truck frame for traction-engines.



E. E. WiCKERSHAM.

B01 LER TRUCK FRAME FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1918 1,296,579, Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i- A TTORNEYS E. E. WICKERSHAM.

ROLLER TRUCK FRAME FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 1mm. l9l8.

1 ,296,579. Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNE Y3 UNITED STATES earenr carton.

ELMER E. WICKEBSHAM, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOLT MANU- FACTURIN'G comm, OF STOCKTQN, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATXON OF CALIFORNIA.

., ROLLER-TRUCK FRAME F03, TRACTION-ENGINES.

To all WhOTTL it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER E. WIGKER- sHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California, have invented, new and'useful Improvements in Roller-Truck Frames for Traction-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to roller truck frames for self-laying track tractors of tht type shown, for example, in Patent No 1,026,037, May l i, 1912, and my copending application, Serial No. 171,172, filed May 26th, 1917.

Frames of this sort have commonly been built up of sheet metal and structural channel iron secured together by riveting. Devices constructed in this manner are very heavy and cumbersome besides being expensive both in material and labor because to prevent them from working loose, particularly at the seam between the vertical and horizontal members. it is necessary to use heavy materials and careful workmanship. In the present invention the object is to overcome these difficulties by devising a construction which will permit an entire frame to be made from one piece and practically at one operation and provided with substantial bracing means to insure the necessary strength and stability.

In accomplishing this result a suitable sheet of metal is formed so that when struck up by aproperly shaped die the usual frame having vertical sides united by a horizontal web is formed with flanged forks at one end, the flanges of the forks uniting at the base thereof to form a vertical transverse reinforcing rib for the horizontal web. Braeing means are thus provided to prevent movement of the vertical and horizontal members relatively to one another.

- One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective elevational view of a frame embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 1s a side elevation of a self-laying Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 2a, 1912.

track mechanism, showing the applicatit the invention thereto.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of same ;he track being removed.

As shown, in the drawings. the frame onsists of a piece of sheet steel or other --uitable material formed with two vertica des 3 united at their upper edges. by horizontal webs t3. The body of the truekframe thus formed is substantially in the shape of an inverted U. The lower edges of the members 5 are turned outwardly to form flanges T'to which suitable journal boxes 8 for the bearing rollers 9 may be secured. The forward end of the one-piece truck body is cut out and forked, as shown at 10. in Fig. 1, to provide a space in which the track carrying wheel 11 may be journaled between the vertical members 5. The forward ends of the members 5, forming forks 12 having their lower edges tapered off, as shown in Fig. 2. project beyond the horizontal web portion as shown in Fig. 1. These forks 12 straddle and support a sprocket or guide wheel 11 around which the endless track 13 passes. The upper edges of the forks 12 are provided with horizontal flanges 1% on which the bearings of the guide wheel 11 rest. These flanges extend to the base of the forks and curving upwardly continue across, as shown at 15. forming a vertically disposed reinforcing rib and brace extending across the front end of the web (3 and stiffening the whole frame.

The flanges and integral reinforcing rib made in this manner can readily be formed on the truck frame at the same operation in which the whole article is produced, thus permitting of an economical method of manufacture which at the same time produces a frame having a novel construction and including integral reinforcing means.

Various changes in the construction and arrangement of the several parts herein shown and described may be employed Without departing from the spirit of my invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A one-piece roller truck frame for selflaying track tractors comprising vertical members having flanges at their lower edges forming supports for roller journals, and a horizontal web connecting the upper edges of said vertical members, said web being cut out at one end between the vertical members to receive a track carrying wheel, and provided with a transverse reinforcing rib.

2. A one-piece roller truck frame for selflaying track tractors comprising a horizontal web connecting the upper edges of two wertical members, extensions on said vertical members projecting beyond the horizontal member to form supports for a track carry ing wheel, and a reinforcing rib extending across the horizontal member at the base of the extensions.

3. A one-piece roller truck frame for selflaying track tractors comprising a horizontal web connecting the upper edges of two vertical members, extensions on said vertical members projecting beyond the horizontal member to form supports for a-.track carry- 20 ing wheel, and a reinforcing rib extendin across the horizontal member at the base 0 the extensions and curving outwardly to form flanges on said extensions.

4. A one-piece roller truck frame for selflaying track tractors comprising a horizontal web connecting the upper edges of two vertical members, supports for roller truck journals on the lower edges of said members, extensions on said vertical members projecting beyond the horizontal member to form supports for a track carrying wheel, and a reinforcing rib extending across the horizontal member at the base of the extensions and curving outwardlyto form flanges on said extensions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELMER E. WICKERSHAM.

Witnesses:

W. W. HEALEY, M. E. EWING. 

